Good evening Penderlea Families,
As we move into the week of November 17th through November 21st, here are some important reminders and updates to help keep your family informed and prepared for the weeks ahead. Thank you for staying connected and involve
Read to Succeed! – Week 4 Update
Penderlea is proud to continue our participation in the Pender County Schools Million Minute Challenge, a districtwide effort to promote reading at home and build a love of literacy across all grade levels. This initiative supports one of Penderlea’s key school goals: improving literacy for all students.
We’re now moving into Week 4 of the challenge, and our Hornets continue to show how much they love reading! Here are the current top three grade levels leading the way:
3rd Grade: 2,374 minutes
4th Grade: 1,036 minutes
6th Grade: 648 minutes
Way to go, readers! Keep up the great work and continue logging your minutes daily. Parents reading with younger students counts too—every minute makes a difference!
Recommended Daily Reading Time:
K–2: 15–20 minutes | Grades 3–5: 20–30 minutes | Grades 6–8: 30–45 minutes
Students can log their minutes using the QR code on the flyer sent home or through ClassLink for easy access.
Winter Intersession for All – December 15–18
We’re excited to announce Winter Intersession for All, a new opportunity for every K–8 student to participate in extra learning and enrichment before the holiday break!
Winter Intersession will take place December 15–18, and every student will receive an invitation to attend. The goal is to provide academic support and enrichment opportunities for all students who want or need it.
Letters and flyers with progress reports. Families are asked to return their responses by December 5 to help us plan effectively.
We look forward to offering this expanded opportunity for all our Hornets to learn, grow, and finish the semester strong!
College Accelerator Program Information Nights
Families of current 7th- and 8th-grade students are invited to attend one of the upcoming College Accelerator Program (CAP) information sessions hosted by Cape Fear Community College.
These sessions are a great opportunity to learn more about how the CAP program allows students to begin earning high school and college credits at the same time—helping them get a head start on their future education goals.
Please note: This is a repeat of the session held in September.
Information Session Dates:
Pender High School: Tuesday, November 18 at 5:30 PM (Media Center)
Topsail High School: Wednesday, November 19 at 5:30 PM (Media Center)
Heide Trask High School: Thursday, November 20 at 5:30 PM (Media Center)
A flyer with full details is attached to this email. Families are encouraged to attend the session most convenient for them to learn more about this exciting opportunity.
National Career Development Spirit Week – November 17–21
This week, we’re joining Pender County Schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) to celebrate National Career Development Month Spirit Week! This week is all about helping students explore their futures and raise awareness around different career paths.
Spirit Week Themes:
Monday, Nov. 17 – Future Trades Day: Wear gear that represents a hands-on trade or career.
Tuesday, Nov. 18 – Future College Shirt Day: Show off your favorite or future college.
Wednesday, Nov. 19 – Your Future is Bright Day: Wear bright colors and sunglasses.
Thursday, Nov. 20 – Dress Like Your Favorite Teacher Day.
Friday, Nov. 21 – Dress for Your Future Career Day.
Student Check-In Scores Available in Infinite Campus
This year, Pender County Schools will not send home printed student reports following district and state assessments. Families can now access all student assessment reports directly through Infinite Campus.
It’s important for parents to review these scores and talk with their child about their progress. Having these conversations helps students reflect on their learning, celebrate growth, and set goals for continued improvement.
If you need help accessing your child’s assessment reports in Infinite Campus, please contact the school at pls_info@pender.k12.nc.us for assistance.
Holidays Around the World & Winter Concert
Join us on Thursday, December 9th, from 5:30–7:00 PM for Penderlea’s Holidays Around the World celebration!
This student-led event will showcase traditions, foods, and celebrations from cultures across the globe, giving our Hornets the opportunity to lead, teach, and share what they’ve learned with families and guests.
The evening will also feature our Winter Concert, highlighting performances from Penderlea students as we celebrate the season together through music and learning.
More information is included in the attached flyer. We can’t wait to see our families on campus for this special night of culture, community, and celebration!
PCS County-Wide Food Drive
This November, Pender County Schools is kicking off a district-wide food drive to support local organizations that provide meals and essential resources to families in need throughout our community.
Each school, including Penderlea, will collect non-perishable food items throughout the month, and all donations will stay local to benefit Pender County families.
Requested items include: cereal, canned tuna or chicken, peanut butter, condiments, and individually packaged snacks like granola bars, Pop-Tarts, crackers, and fruit cups.
Collection bins will be available on campus all month long.
Let’s work together to make a difference and show that Penderlea is the place to be for kindness, generosity, and community spirit.
Career Fair – Permission Slips Due
A reminder to our 8th-grade families that students will be attending the Pender County Career Fair this Friday.
Please make sure your student’s permission slip is signed and returned as soon as possible so they can participate in this great opportunity to explore future careers and pathways.
Penderlea Weekend at Tate Farm – This Weekend!
Our Penderlea Weekend at Tate Farm is happening this Friday and Saturday, November 21–22!
Tate Farm has partnered with Penderlea for a Community Partnership Fundraiser, and a portion of all sales from the weekend will be donated back to our school to support student programs and activities.
Bring your family, enjoy a day at the farm, and show your Hornet pride while helping make a difference for our students.
A flyer with all the details is attached to this email.
Thank you for supporting Penderlea—the place to be for family, fun, and community!
Mark your calendars for November 21–22! Tate Farm has partnered with Penderlea School for a special Community Partnership Fundraiser weekend.
A portion of all sales from that weekend will be donated back to Penderlea to support our students, classrooms, and school programs.
Bring your family, enjoy a day at the farm, and show your Hornet pride while supporting a great cause.
Athletic Weekly Update
Monday November 17th- Away Girls Soccer and Boys Basketball game at Surf City Middle School
Thursday November 20th- Away Girls Soccer and Boys Basketball game at Topsail Middle School
***All soccer games begin at 4:15 PM and basketball games begin at 4:30 PM***
Family Thanksgiving Lunch – Wednesday, November 19
We are excited to invite families to join us for our annual Parents Thanksgiving Lunch on Wednesday, November 19, hosted in partnership with Aramark!
Families are welcome to come enjoy a special Thanksgiving meal with their child in the Penderlea cafeteria. This is a wonderful opportunity to share lunch together and celebrate the season of gratitude with our school community.
Important Details:
Parents will purchase tickets the day of the event at the ticketing table outside the cafeteria.
Meals will be served in a to-go box to help keep service smooth and efficient.
After purchasing tickets, parents may meet their child inside the cafeteria to enjoy lunch together once students have gone through the lunch line.
Families who plan to attend should complete the Google Form linked in this email to help us prepare for the event.
Families who plan to attend should complete the Google Form linked in this email to help us prepare for the event.
Lunch Schedule:
Kindergarten & 1st Grade: 10:20–10:45
2nd & 3rd Grade: 10:50–11:15
4th & 5th Grade: 11:45–12:10
7th Grade: 12:12–12:40
8th Grade: 12:45–1:15
6th Grade: 1:10–1:40
We look forward to celebrating this special tradition with our Hornet families and giving thanks together!
Vision Screenings – November 17
Penderlea will conduct vision screenings for students in 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades on Monday, November 17th.
The screening includes a standard vision check and, if needed, a Spot Vision Screening, which is a quick, non-invasive way to identify possible vision concerns. No physical contact is required during these screenings.
If you would like to opt your child out of the vision screening, please contact our school nurse, Mrs. Brown, prior to November 17th.
School Pictures – Save the Dates
We want to be sure families have plenty of notice for this year’s student, class, and sports pictures:
Student & Class Pictures
Kindergarten Cap & Gown – February 26
Classroom Group & Spring Pictures – March 31
If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out via email at pls_info@pender.k12.nc.us or call the school at 910-285-2761.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. Together we will continue to make Penderlea the Place to Be!
Stephen Harris
Principal-Penderlea School
